Walkers ready to step out in style

The Corwen Walking Festival will take place this weekend – September 1 and 2.

 

Walks to suit all levels of fitness will be on offer, from routes around Corwen itself finding out about the history of the town to a high level ridge walk along the Berwyn reaching over 800 metres in height.

Organisers are offering 12 guided walks on both days and you have the choice of doing a full two-day walk and, with some of the shorter walks, you could do one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Also arranged throughout the day are skills lectures, an evening lecture and Cotswold Outdoor the outdoor retailer will be having an on-site shop.

Due to sponsorship from both Cadwyn Clywd (the Rural Development Agency), Denbighshire County Council and the Corwen and District Business Association, the whole of the 2012 Corwen Walking Festival will be free of charge.

The event has been organised by the Corwen and District Business Association with support from Cadwyn Clwyd; Denbighshire County Council; Corwen Community Council; Ifor Williams; Yr Hen Felin Cynwyd Activity and Mountain Centre.

Bookings can be made by filling in a booking form which can be downloaded by clicking on the link http://www.corwenwalkingfestival.co.uk/booking.html

 

All booking forms should be sent back to: Gŵyl Gerdded Corwen Walking Festival,  C/O Egryn, Penybryn, Corwen, Denbighshire, LL21 0BD.

For further information  0797 006 4191 or, e-mail info@gwylgerddedcorwenwalkingfestival.co.uk

 

 

Locos heading home for major steam gala

TWO of Llangollen Railway’s own fleet of locomotives will be back home in time to take part in a major steam gala there this weekend.

They have been away for the summer helping out at other heritage railways over the border in England.    

The Great Western Pannier tank engine No. 6430 is due to return from the South Devon Railway at Totnes where it has been providing cover during a locomotive shortage.  

The return of this popular engine will allow Llangollen Railway to offer the running of the Auto-coach train, which will provide for a shuttle service on to the track extension west of Carrog during the gala event, which runs from Friday-Sunday. 

The British Railways Standard Tank engine No. 80072 is returning from a spell of duty on the North Yorkshire Moors Railways at Pickering where it has been earning its keep by making a major contribution to the motive power on that line. 

These locomotives will join the operation fleet with No. 7822 Foxcote Manor, Great Western Heavy Freight engine No. 3802 and the LMS Black Five No. 44806, which have provided the basic steam service at Llangollen during this summer. 

With five engines in steam over the forthcoming weekend a frequent service of trains will operate in the Dee Valley to demonstrate steam power at its best and show how the railway operates at maximum capacity with a near half-hourly service.  

Those who stand on Berwyn station during the weekend they will see a train passing at 10-minute intervals during the peak of the days as the services work in and out of Llangollen - a spectacle that was unimaginable in Great Western or British Railway days on the former Ruabon to Barmouth line when a two-hourly interval service was more likely.  

Details of timetable are on the Llangollen Railway website. 

George Jones for Llangollen Railway said: "Having our engines on hire by other railways not only helps them to provide the essential element of a heritage railway, but also allows the engines to earn their keep and contribute towards their future maintenance costs. 

“Right now the operational fleet of engines at Llangollen exceeds our daily needs and the surplus capacity can be used elsewhere.  

“As an example of this the British Railways Standard tank engine will not be staying long after the gala event as it is booked for hire to the Chinnor & Princess Risborough Railway in Oxforshire during the autumn and winter period." 

A third engine will be returning to Llangollen this week when the Austerity Saddle tank No. 68030 comes in from a spell at the Ecclesbourne Railway in Derbyshire but this won't be operating at the weekend as it is due a heavy overhaul and is expected to be taken apart quite soon to renew it for further service.

All this provides work for the Railway's engineering department and allows for continued employment of the skilled workforce at Llangollen.

 

* Llangollen Station will be the scene of a major steam gala this weekend.

Forthcoming diary dates ...

Here we bring you details of a number of local events over the next week or so:

·        Going Batty, a guided bat walk, will be held in the grounds of Plas Newydd, from 7-9pm on Friday, August 31. You can learn about their silent world and listen in on their nightly rituals. For more details, ring Ros of the AONB team on 01978 869618.

·        A charity dog show called Dog Dayz, in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, will be held at Plas Newydd from 10am on Sunday, September 2. Entry is £1 and there will be pedigree and novelty dog classes, a dog agility demonstration and pets therapy. Greenfields Greyhound Rescue will be represented and there will be various trade stands.

·        Friends of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be holding a coffee morning from 10am-noon on Tuesday, September 4, at Llan Memorial Hall. Entrance is 50p and there will be a raffle, prizes and various stalls. All are welcome.

 

Welsh paralympians wished good luck

The Welsh Government has wished Welsh athletes representing ParalympicsGB the best of luck as the London 2012 Paralympic Games begin.

 

The opening ceremony marks the official start of the 14th Paralympic Games.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Wales can be immensely proud that a record 38 Welsh athletes have made it into the ParalympicsGB squad and I am sure all of the country will be united behind them as they go for gold.

"Our current generation of Paralympians hold huge potential. They have proved they are have what it takes to make it to the top of their field and will now be competing at the height of their sport in front of the world. I am sure they will do Wales proud and I wish them the best of luck."

Sports Minister Huw Lewis said: "Our Welsh Paralympians have put in years of effort to make the grade for these Games and I have no doubt they will return home with medals.

"The fact we have 38 athletes in the squad, half of them first time Paralympians, shows just how strong disability sport in Wales currently is. It is testament to the clubs, coaches and support staff across the country who continue to promote and grow disability sports that we are building on our amazing track record in producing world class Paralympians

"I am sure everyone in Wales will wish our athletes every success in London."

Reader captures a mystical mountain scene

An arty llanblogger reader has sent in this atmospheric photograph he took from his home on a hillside just outside town looking over towards Castell Dinas Bran.

The image was captured as an early morning mist hung over the valley.

It's a delightful shot, and if anyone can beat it for beauty please email in your picture to llanblogger@gmail.com

Historic coach gets back on track

* Coach E43012 back in service at Llangollen Railway.

Last weekend’s Classic Transport event at Llangollen Railway saw the reintroduction to service of a suburban compartment coach after a major restoration effort by volunteers.

The coach, No. E43012, is one of three such suburban coaches which originally provided train services at Llangollen when the heritage railway started operations back in the early 80s but which have been out of use for several years.

Unlike the other two which have separate compartments, the restored vehicle has the compartments connected by a corridor and includes the option for 1st class or 2nd second seating and centrally located toilets.

It was built at Doncaster in 1955 and used in the Eastern Region on services out of London.

Restoration of the coach has been carried out over the past 12 months at the Railway's Pentrefelin Carriage works by members of the Llangollen Suburban Restoration Group and has seen internal work carried out on each of the compartments, refurbishment of the external body work and overhaul of the running gear.

The coach has been repainted in a cheery livery described as 'Outer London Suburban Red’.

George Jones for Llangollen Railway said: "The restored coach made a grand impression with visitors to the weekend event when passengers were keen to pay a supplement to sample the luxury of first class travel.

“The work involved in returning this vehicle to traffic is a great credit to the volunteers who put in many hours of effort to complete the project.

"The coach will again be in use during the forthcoming autumn steam gala on August 31 and September 1 and 2.”

Council chief minds his language

* Dr Mohammed Mehmet.

Speaks Welsh at every opportunity

 As thousands of students across the county celebrate their exam success over the last couple of weeks, Denbighshire’s chief executive Mohammed Mehmet was celebrating passing his entry level certificate in Welsh Second Language with flying colours.Dr Mehmet says he has been studying hard and practicing his Welsh at every opportunity and actively invites people to speak Welsh with him whenever possible. Dr Mehmet said: “I am delighted to have passed this first stage but I will not rest on my laurels and look forward to continuing my studies in the coming years to improve my Welsh language skills. “I also hope that my achievements will inspire all non Welsh speaking staff to improve their Welsh Language skills. “